Environmental Conference Draws Hundreds to UF Law

The annual Public Interest Environmental Conference, co-sponsored by the The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section and UF Student Government, brought over 200 people to the Levin College of Law campus for two days of panels and plenary sessions in early March.

Among the highlights, Jill Zilligen, vice president, sustainable business practices at Nau, Inc. gave a fascinating view into a start-up outdoor apparel company with a central focus on sustainability at the opening reception. At the Friday evening banquet, Ray Anderson (pictured above), founder and chairman of Interface, provided a detailed picture of how a focus on sustainability enables a company to reap significant financial benefits while minimizing the costs it externalizes on the rest of society. The facts and figures Anderson cited made it abundantly clear that a large part of sustainability is simply good business practices that should interest every business leader focused on the bottom line.

The final session featured Phyllis Harris, vice president for environmental compliance at Wal-Mart, and John Henry Hankinson, who concluded with the rousing song “Testify,” written specially for the conference and performed (with harmonica) by Hankinson (with audience assistance on the refrain). Special thanks to all the ELULS Public Interest Committee members who helped in organizing and moderating the 12 very successful panels that spanned Friday and Saturday. —ELULP Director Alyson Flournoy